Safe-protecting device



Patented Mar. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

iBANK J. WHITTEMORE, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO HARRY B.

, DYER, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

SAFE-PROTECTING DEVICE.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be' it knowmthat I, FRANK J. WHI'M'E- MORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Henne- 6 pin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safe-Protecting Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as 10 will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention provides an extremely simple and highly eflicient device for protecting safes that have been blown for the purpose of robbery, and it consists of a container, preferably aglass bottle or jar, filled with or containing a liquid which, when released to the air by the breaking of the container,

will produce a gas which, for a considerable time, will prevent burglars or others from entering or staying in the vicinity of the blown safe.

It is a known fact that more than ninety per cent of safe robberies are produced by blowing of the safes. .The container of my safe-protecting device is suspended or supported Within the safe, preferably onthe inner side of the safe door, where it is bound to be broken by the force of any explosion,

such as would open the safe.

The smoke-producing composition is preferably a mixture of formaldehyde, glycerine and carmine. The formaldehyde gas, which constitutes the principal ingredient, when Application filed May 16, 1923. Serial No. 639,294.

' exposed to air,'penetrates the eyes, nostrils and mouth, bringing tears to the eyes, causing choking and'cougliing and further pro-, duces a burning and smarting within the nose and throat and, in short, making it absolutely impossible for a person to stay in 40 the vicinity of the safe where the substance is released. The glycerine holds the formaldehyde in suspension and. prevents the same from hugging or sticking to the upper part of the safe and causes the gas to float 4 where it will directlyreach the face of the yeggman or safe blower. In fact, this composition will produce an intense cloud of vapor that will floatvfor several hours and will, for a long time, make it impossible for any person to approach the safe or to stay within the vicinity of the safe. Nevertheless, the case is not a deadly gas and any person who wishes may escape simply by rapidly getting out of the way of the gas.

The carmine keeps the composition from deteriorating with age and to remain in solution ready for use even for years.

What I claim is:

1. A safe protecting means comprising a solution made up of formaldehyde, glycerine and carmine.

2. A safe protecting device comprising a frangible container and within said container a gas-producing substance consisting b of formaldehyde, glycerine and carmine.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRANK J. WHITTEMORE. 

